Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Giants Finally Figure Out Nationals

The Giants opened up this crucial 3-game set by getting embarrassed by the Nats behind the guy who's been their ace of the second half in Ryan Vogelsong. They turned to their left-handed stopper Tuesday night to get them on track and Madison Bumgarner threw a gem.

MadBum Shuts Down Nats

Bumgarner threw a complete game, allowing 1 run on 5 hits with 6 strikeouts in route to his team-leading 13th win on the season. In what was really a fine pitching matchup, the Giants' young arm got the better of Jordan Zimmerman, who is probably the Nationals' best arm right now, and gave the Giants a chance to take the series in the matinee Wednesday. Madison was certainly masterful in this one, but once again, the key to the game for me was the Giants jumping out to the early lead, albeit by just a run. We saw what happens when they get behind early on Monday, and then we saw the complete 180 turnaround Tuesday. The Giants definitely had their offense clicking on all cylinders in game two, and the bottom of the order really stuck out. Their 6-8 hitters combined to go 7-12 and drove in 4 runs. Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt each had 3-hit games and Belt led the team with 3 RBI and missed two home runs by a combined 18-inches.

Another huge step for the Giants Tuesday night came before the game even started, as Bruce bochy got to pencil in the lineup he'd been envisioning since the trade deadline acquisitions of Marco Scutaro and Hunter Pence. Pablo Sandoval made his return to the starting lineup and although he didn't do a whole bunch himself, you could see the ripple effect his return had on this team. Bochy said before the game that he'd likely stick with Tuesday's batting order on most nights for the rest of the season, with Cabrera and Posey sticking at 3 and 4, Pablo moving into the fifth spot and Pence dropping to 6. I think the move takes some pressure of Pence, who had really been pressing since the deal, and it will eventually pay off for Panda as well to have #8 protecting him in the order. Boch also said Marco Scutaro will take over as the primary second basemen and number 2 hitter, but Theriot will still see time at 2nd, and Scutaro time at third when Panda rests or plays first. All in all, the Giants lineup is whole again, and things are already falling into place!

So the Giants, for the first time in 2012, figured out this Washington National squad and just in time for huge matchup Wednesday afternoon. The Giants will send Tim Lincecum up against Stephen Strasburg for the series and final meeting of the regular season between these two teams. Something tells me the Giants will be seeing them again down the road though!